A driver is dead after allegedly deliberately crashing a car loaded with improvised explosive devices into a historic social club in Portland, Oregon, Saturday morning, sparking a massive response from local and federal law enforcement.
During a news conference Saturday afternoon, Portland officials said that just before 2:50 a.m. local time, Multnomah Athletic Club employees spotted a vehicle driving slowly around the building before plunging through a window and steering inside the facility.
The car was quickly engulfed in flames, and first responders later determined a deceased person was inside the car.
Jim Defrain, supervisor of the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) Explosive Disposal Unit, said multiple incendiary and improvised explosive devices were found inside the vehicle, along with propane tanks.
Some of the devices experienced a “low order explosion,” meaning they did not fully detonate, leaving live explosives scattered in a flooded area.
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Bomb squad units have been working for more than 14 hours, using robots to safely extract explosive devices one by one.
“This is a dirty, dangerous, complex job,” Defrain said. “I’ve been a bomb technician here in the city for over 13 years. This is by far the most complex scene that I’ve ever dealt with.”
Authorities noted the car appeared to have been driven toward the club’s restaurant area, where the building’s gas line is located.
First responders quickly shut off the gas, and officials noted that while there was an intent to detonate significantly more devices, the failure of several explosives prevented a catastrophic event.
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The scene remains too dangerous for the medical examiner to approach the vehicle, delaying the removal and identification of the deceased driver.
An FBI Portland spokesperson told Fox News Digital it is involved in a joint investigation with the PPB.
“It’s too early to determine [a] motive at this point, but we can safely say there’s no threat to the public at this time,” the spokesperson said.
While noting the attack happened just hours after Portland’s May Day protests, the PPB and FBI said the incident is currently being considered an “isolated event” with no immediate ties to domestic terrorism.
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson told reporters he wanted to “note our sadness for the individual who lost his life here.”
“We always have opportunities to help individuals out, so we’ll look back at this person’s past, and we’ll determine what we could do to try and improve our future for Portland as well.”
In a Facebook post, the historic 135-year-old club said it would remain closed until further notice.
“At this time, we do not have a timeline for reopening, but we’re expecting a prolonged close,” club leadership wrote in the post. “Our priority is ensuring the club is safe before welcoming our community back.”
The incident comes less than a month after another car crashed into the club April 8, injuring a security guard, according to a report from KPTV.
It is unclear if the cases are connected.
The PPB and FBI Portland did not immediately respond to additional inquiries from Fox News Digital.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
